St. Francis fifth-graders Noah VanHoomison, Roenin Egger and Joseph Crowell prepare to board a bus headed to Camp Howard July 9. The three boys, who shared a cabin at the camp, were able to attend thanks to scholarships and the initiative of Sister Krista von Borstel, Camp Howard executive director.

ROY — The day St. Francis of Assisi fifth-grader Joseph Crowell first heard about Camp Howard at school, he came home begging his mom to send him.

“We have six kids, and we just couldn’t,” she explained recently. Joseph’s persistent plea was repeated for several days, until one afternoon he bolted across the school field, wrapped his arms around his mother and exclaimed: “I’m going to Camp Howard, Mom, I’m going.”

Escalating violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo temporarily stalled the efforts and hopes of De La Salle student Felix Songolo. This spring, the then-junior organized a collection for Congolese youths — gathering enough clothes, shoes and backpacks to fill five large bags and receiving about $400 in donations. The plan was to distribute the items during his first-ever visit to his parents’ native country. The family fled the Congo to Zambia before Songolo was born.

An updated travel warning issued by the U.S. Department of State will keep the teen from returning to his roots this summer.

As lacrosse flourishes in the Portland area, many youth players are experiencing the sport for the first time in the Catholic Youth Organization league. Since 2011, CYO coaches have guided youths through fundamental skills to advanced techniques. St. Pius X and St. John Fisher parishes provide fields for practice. Home games are played at Valley Catholic and Jesuit high schools.Friday, July 28, 2017

“We have six kids, and we just couldn’t,” she explained recently. Joseph’s persistent plea was repeated for several days, until one afternoon he bolted across the school field, wrapped his arms around his mother and exclaimed: “I’m going to Camp Howard, Mom, I’m going.”

WASHINGTON — After the Senate Republicans failed to get enough votes to pass a "skinny" repeal to remove parts of the Affordable Care Act in the early hours of July 28, a U.S. bishop said the "task of reforming the health care system still remains."Friday, July 28, 2017

VATICAN CITY — As the U.S. president's personal envoy to the Vatican, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See has a unique role in building a bridge between the political center of the United States and the religious-spiritual center of the universal Catholic Church in Rome.